The Obafemi Awolowo University in Ile-Ife, Osun State, was the scene of a brutal attack on Saturday, July 10, 1999, at around 4:30 in the morning. According to reports, 40 Black Axe Fraternity members wearing masks, black T-shirts, and black pants carried out the attack. Even after twenty-five years, the colleagues are still haunted by the memories of the students who died because no one has been found guilty of their deaths. Those who were taken into custody for the offense were released.
On July 10, 1999, several students were killed in Blocks 5 and 8 of Awolowo Hall. They included George Akinyemi Iwilade, also known as Afrika, a 21-year-old 400-Level Law student who was also the General Secretary of the Students’ Union Government (SUG), Eviano Ekeimu, a 400-Level Medicine student, Yemi Ajiteru, an extra year student, Babatunde Oke, a 100-Level Philosophy student, and Godfrey Ekpede. The fatal day’s early hours saw the execution of the strike. It was learned that, around 4:15 in the morning, the late George had returned to his room 273, Block 8 in Awolowo Hall following a ceremony at Awo café. Thirty minutes later, George was shot in the forehead by the attackers, who were headed by a student from a different university. They had first attacked him with a machete, leaving a severe cut on his skull.
Following the incident, students took to the streets, taking particular aim at the then-vice chancellor Wole Omole. This led to the ultimate arrest of three individuals, Agricultural Economics Part I student Aisekhaghe Aikhile, Emeka Ojuagu, and Frank Idahosa (Efosa), who were thought to have been involved in the attack. The book Water Must Flow Uphill (Adventures in University Administration) by Prof. Roger Makanjuola provides a description of the events leading up to the slaughter. After the massacre, Makanjuola was appointed vice chairman of the university and actively participated in the investigation and prosecution of university personnel implicated in the killings. In the weeks preceding the killings, Makanjuola describes an initial event and its fallout: “On Saturday, March 7, 1999, a group of Black Axe members held a meeting in Ife town.” They returned to the campus by car following the meeting. They were passed by some students in another vehicle on the major route, route 1, which leads onto the college. They pursued the students because, for whatever reason, they were furious. When the students realized they were being followed, they hurried to the parking lot outside Angola Hall and fled into the nearby Awolowo Hall for protection. In reaction to the tragedy, the Students’ Union mobilized. They had also been informed that members of a secret cult were meeting in a house in the senior staff quarters.
A party of them, led by Secretary-General George Iwilade, drove to the house that Mr. F.M. Mekoma was supposed to be occupying and broke into the boys’ quarters. Nine people, eight of them university students, were discovered within. They had an axe, a bayonet, a submachine gun, black clothing and cult insignia, and an axe made locally. The members of the covert cult were turned over to the police when the university administration was notified. After being detained by the police, they were brought before the Chief Magistrate’s Court, where they were given bail after two weeks.”
Makanjuola documents the incident and expresses concerns about how the police and the judicial system handled it, defying protocol and common sense and destroying evidence, which made it impossible to prosecute the Black Axe members who were involved in it. According to Professor Roger Makanjuola, “the Chief Magistrate discharged and acquitted the arrested individuals to everyone’s utter amazement on March 31st, when the case was heard.” There was no witness call for the students who had captured the cult members. Corporal Femi Adewoye, the investigating police officer, asserted in court that the witnesses could not be found and said, “I tried to contact the complainants in this case, all to no avail.” There hasn’t been a complainant in this case yet. The claims cannot be proven because no complainant exists and all accused parties have refuted the accusations made against them. This was the police officer that was prosecuting the case submittal! Typically, in situations like this, the university administration would serve the summons to the witnesses, but this did not occur. Two court hearings over the course of eight days finished the trial.
In addition, the Chief Magistrate gave the order to destroy the other exhibits and send the submachine gun to the police armorer. This removed all evidence and prevented the case from being reopened. It was suggested by the Judicial Enquiry that the Magistrate be brought before the Judicial Commission for suitable disciplinary action. This did not materialize, just as none of the other Panel proposals did.” According to Prof. Roger Makanjuola, the Black Axe cultists went back to the institution to continue their studies once the prosecution was unsuccessful. Much to the chagrin and worry of their classmates. The university’s officials moved to suspend the involved cultists by issuing a “release” in response to student outcry, but they neglected to issue official letters informing the affected students of their suspension. Professor Roger Makanjuola states: “A student crisis shortly afterward led to the university’s closure. Three months later, the campus reopened, and the members of the cult were back, showing up for lectures. Again, the kids sounded the alarm. In response, the University reaffirmed the suspensions of the cult members in a release dated July 2. It is unlikely that anybody impacted received the suspension letters—which were dated July 8—prior to the tragic events that transpired two days later. besides the actual variables mentioned in Prof. Roger Makanjuola’s and other people’s accounts. It is also claimed that circumstances related to establishing the ideal conditions for the massacre to have taken place had an impact.
Among these include the general rise in violence on campuses brought on by government and university employment as well as the funding of campus cults. According to Peluola Adewale, “up until the 1980s, campus cultism had not always been overtly violent, and this shift occurred at the same time that governments began making significant attacks on higher education.” This started with the introduction of some ludicrous accusations and progressed to the Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) in 1986. These have since evolved into a broader economic policy based on neo-liberalism. Campus cultists were hired by the government and university administration to quell student resistance to anti-poor policies and the commercialization of education. The social backgrounds of those who were once part of cults prepared them for such evil deeds.
Since the majority of them came from wealthy or middle-class backgrounds, they were mostly unaffected by the government’s and the university’s anti-poor policies, such as the controversial fees that students had to pay. Nowadays, students from underprivileged backgrounds are becoming members of cults. They mostly do this because college cultism offers a great platform for extortion and other illegal actions to generate money.” The governance of the university at the time of the massacre is cited as another contributing factor. Vice Chancellor Wale Omole is alleged to have done nothing but maybe shield well-known campus cultists. Vice Chancellor Wale Omole’s administration, according to Peluola Adewale, “created an enabling atmosphere for the attack.”
During his eight years in office, Omole did not demonstrate a significant commitment to combating campus cultism; instead, it was typical for cultists who were caught by students to evade capture and return to the institution unpunished. It was documented that no cultist was penalized by the Omole-led administration, despite the fact that student activists faced expulsion for organizing students in support of several demands.” Several student organizations hosted a celebration at Obafemi Awolowo University on the evening of July 9, 1999. According to the Mirror Online, “members of Kegites Club on the campus, Man O’ war members, and various other student leaders- both former and incumbent, gathered at the open ground between Angola and Mozambique Halls.” Later on in the evening, a large number of the party guests moved into Awolowo Hall’s cafeteria, while others went back to their dorms to sleep. On July 10, 1999, between three and four in the morning, a large group of cultists from the Black Axe fraternity—estimated to be between twenty-two and forty—arrived to carry out a prearranged attack on the university with the goal of killing multiple prominent student union members.
It’s still uncertain whether the claims that Wale Omole, the vice chancellor of the institution, was behind these killings are true. According to reports, “one of the cultists, Kazeem Bello, aka Kato, confessed that Wale Omole had a hand in their July 10 dastardly operation.” The Black Axe cult members “drove through the main gate and proceeded to the car park next to the Tennis Courts in the Sports Center” after arriving at the institution. There, they landed and proceeded to walk along a bush trail to Awolowo Hall, where they fired guns and brandished axes and cutlasses to forcefully stop the gyration.” Despite the fact that different accounts differ regarding the sequence in which the deaths occurred, it is evident that four people were killed in the aftermath of the assault, one more person died later from gunshot wounds, one more person survived, and “Twenty-five others received minor injuries, which were sustained during the stampede out of the Awolowo Hall cafeteria and later on during the attack.” There was a report stating that “The victims, which included the then Students’ Union Secretary General, George Yemi Iwilade, (fondly called Afrika); 400 level medical student, Eviano Ekelemu; a graduating student, Yemi Ajiteru; 100-Level Philosophy student, Babatunde Oke, and Ekpede Godfrey were gunned down by the “marauding beasts” in Blocks 5 and 8, Awolowo Hall. According to Professor Roger Makanjuola, Tude Oke passed away while still alive on the operation table. Four more were brought in dead: Eviano Ekelemu, Yemi Ajiteru, Efe Ekede, and George Iwilade. Eviano Ekelemu died from gunshot wounds to his crotch and thigh, bleeding profusely. Three other people perished from head wounds caused by gunshots.” According to multiple sources, during the attack, Black Axe members were heard yelling, “Legacy, come out!” in reference to Lanre Adeleke, the suspended president of the Students’ Union. There is also a description of the attacks’ other targets. The same is stated in Prof. Roger Makanjuola’s testimony, and he adds: “During the course of the incident, the attackers also shouted the names of “Afrika”, George Iwilade, and “Dexter”, the Chief of the Kegites, demanding that they come out.” After hearing the gunfire, Lanre Adeleke (Legacy), one of the massacre’s targets, was able to flee by jumping from a balcony. The Chief of the Kegites, “Dexter,” likewise made a clean getaway. Not so fortunate was George Iwilade (Afrika), the secretary-general of the Students’ Union and a law student. The Black Axe “shot him immediately in the head” as soon as it entered his room. To be sure he was dead, they then used their axe to break his head. According to reports, the lone victim of a successful assassination was George Iwilade (Afrika). “Afrika, who was said to have carried out the arrest (relating to the incident on Saturday, 7 March 1999), was mercilessly butchered while the other four were just unfortunate victims” The sequence of events is as follows, according to Professor Roger Makanjuola: “They entered Room 184 first, where they shot and killed Part II Psychology student Efe Ekede. They shot Charles Ita, a Part II Law student, in Room 230. Then, in the hallway outside the Kegites’ offices, a group of the attackers shot Yemi Ajiteru, a student studying Part II Religious Studies, in the head. They located George Iwilade (Afrika), the Secretary-General of the Students’ Union and a law student, in Room 273 and shot him in the head. They also shot Tunde Oke, a Part 1 Philosophy student, in the belly. The assailants discovered that Lanre Adeleke (Legacy), the suspended president of the Students’ Union, had fled when they arrived at Room 271. When Legacy heard the initial gunshots, he was in his room. The group of thugs then went on foot to Fajuyi Hall, where they shot and killed one more student. Even though that person, medical student Eviano Ekelemo, was undoubtedly not a student activist, they nevertheless shot him.”
However, different witness reports differ as to the order in which the victims were killed. According to Prof. Roger Makanjuola, the Black Axe cultists made their getaway on foot, using the bush path that led behind the Hall to return to their vehicles. After driving to the Students’ Union building, they broke into it. They went back to their cars and drove out the front gate of the university. When they heard gunfire, the security personnel ran for their lives. Thus, there was no opposition to the raiding thugs’ departure.”
“President Adeleke presided over an assembly in the enormous amphitheater of Oduduwa Hall; he demanded the immediate resignation of Wole Omole, the loathed vice chancellor who impeded student efforts to eliminate cults (Omole, for example, failed to expel the previously apprehended eight cultists)” according to reports that surfaced the day after the attack. Hundreds of students took over the administration building and refused to leave until Omole was fired. A reward of 10,000 Naira ($100 US) was offered for Omole’s capture.” Professor Roger Makanjuola describes what happened after the tragedy as follows: “The attack left the entire campus in a state of terror and there was pandemonium in the residence halls. But Lanre Adeleke, the Students’ Union President, was able to quickly reestablish order and rally his fellow members. The students traveled to the town in an attempt to find the offenders at suspected cult member residences. Three people were “arrested” and taken back to Awolowo Hall. These were Frank Idahosa (Efosa), Emeka Ojuagu, and Aisekhaghe Aikhile, a Part I student of Agricultural Economics. A public transportation van that was ready to depart Ife was where Efosa and Ojuagu were apprehended. The students displayed what they claimed to be the Black Axe uniform—two T-shirts and two berets—that they had discovered in Ojuagu’s suitcase.
Efosa was a well-known Black Axe member. After being ejected from the University of Benin, he was subsequently accepted into Ife’s Local Government Studies diploma program. The Awolowo Hall “Coffee Room,” the customary location for such gatherings, was the scene of the three of them being brutally assaulted and tortured. Since coffee had not been known to be served there for a long time, the inverted commas have been used. During their “interrogation,” Efosa and Oguagu are reported to have admitted to taking part in the attacks. According to reports, Efosa even stated that the incident was planned as retaliation for the Black Axe members’ cruel treatment after they were caught on March 7 in Mr. Mekoma’s home. Aisekhaghe Aikhile passed away during the interrogation, and his body was brought to the hospital mortuary. 22 Black Axe members—six from the University, four from the University of Lagos, four from the University of Ibadan, and eight from the University of Calabar—were implicated, according to the information obtained from the interrogations. A different accusation stated that additional University of Benin students were also involved. On July 10, 1999, the day of the attack, Professor Wale Omole, the VC, was out of the nation, thus Professor A.E. Akingbohungbe, the Deputy VC (Academic), took command.
The day after he returned to school, the VC was called to Abuja shortly after his arrival to provide a report on the occurrence. His suspension was declared by the government on July 14. A few days later, on July 18, 1999, Professor Roger Makanjuola succeeded Professor Wale Omole as vice chancellor. He assured the Obafemi Awolowo University students that he would use all of his resources to hold the offenders accountable. Upon his first visit to Osogbo, he met with Mr. J.C. Nwoye, the Commissioner of Police, who brought up the matter of the university’s continued failure to officially disclose the murders, citing repeated demands.
Prof. Roger Makanjuola summarized the killings and filed the necessary documentation to formally report them. Professor Roger Makanjuola describes what happened next as follows: “Over the course of the three weeks that followed the murders, 12 people—including Efosa and Ojuagu—were detained and charged in court. Among those detained was only one of the individuals connected to the March incident. There was no sign of the other eight. After obtaining their transcripts, two of them went back to France to continue their education. Babatunde Kazeem, also known as Kato, is a main suspect. The students gave information regarding his whereabouts, and we provided a vehicle so that the Police could accompany the kids to the house in Lagos and make an arrest. Due to her academic failings, Kato, a former student, was “advised to withdraw” from the University. In August 1997, the Students’ Union was able to catch him when he came clean about belonging to a covert cult. After that, he was turned over to the Security Department, but what transpired after that is lost to history. We also gave the Police details about “Innocent,” “Yuletide,” and “Ogbume,” three additional people. Unfortunately, despite the fact that we gave Ogbume’s address in Victoria Garden City, Lagos, nothing came of this. The Ile-Ife Magistrate’s court received charges against the detained individuals for the killings. The Judicial Commission of Enquiry was finally established on October 18 in Abuja, but it didn’t begin operations until November 24 and finally made it to the university on Sunday, November 28. Justice Okoi Itam served as the chairman. Professor Jadesola Akande, a seasoned and well-respected scholar and university administrator, and writer Ray Ekpu were two of the other six members. Later on, Ms. Turi Akerele was assigned to the Commission as legal counsel. Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, a colorful yet extremely talented alumna, served as the team captain for the pupils.
The Commission’s report was turned in in February 2000, and the government’s white paper was made public later that same year. The Commission stated that it firmly believed that the following seven people—Frank Idahosa (Efosa), Didi Yuletide, Kazeem Bello (Kato), and four others identified only by Christian names or nicknames—Innocent, Athanasius, “Ochuko,” and “Chunk”—had taken part in the killings. The final was revealed to be the leader of the covert Black Axe cult at the time. In addition, the Commission suggested that 16 more people, including Emeka Oguaju and the nine participants in the incident on March 7, be investigated. The Panel suggested that the Inspector-General of Police form a special task team to take over the matter after criticizing the police investigation.
In the end, the Chief Magistrate’s Court proceedings against people accused of being members of illegal organizations were dropped. But we had high hopes for the prosecution of the murder cases against Efosa and associates. Starting on April 9, 2001, the Osogbo High Court case continued. The prosecution obtained testimony from several pupils as well as other witnesses. Adjournments followed one another. The case and the judge hearing it were moved to Iwo in the middle of 2002. There was an additional wait as the exhibits were later transported to Iwo. On November 5, 2002, to everyone’s surprise, the Judge upheld the defense’s “No Case” submission.
After the three accused were freed, they vanished from sight.
